Ekana_International_Cricket_Stadium
Ekana Cricket Stadium
International cricket stadium in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Ekana Cricket Stadium also known as Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (BRSABV) Ekana Cricket Stadium or Ekana Sports City[3][4] is an international cricket stadium in Lucknow, India. The arena has a seating capacity of 50,000,[1] and is the fifth largest international cricket stadium of India.[5] In 2018, the stadium was renamed in honour of India's 10th Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It was formerly named Ekana International Cricket Stadium, and locals prefer to address it as Ekana Cricket Stadium. As of 18 Jan 2024, it has hosted 1 Test, 9 ODIs and 6 T20Is. [lower-alpha 1][6][4][3]
Bharat Ratn Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee (BRSABV) Ekana Cricket Stadium | |||||||
Inside view of the stadium | |||||||
| Former names | Ekana International Cricket Stadium | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Address | Ekana Sportz City, Gomti Nagar Extension Lucknow India | ||||||
| Coordinates | 26°48′40″N 81°01′01″E | ||||||
| Elevation | 104m | ||||||
| Owner | Ekana Sportz City | ||||||
| Operator | Ekana Sportz City | ||||||
| Seating type | Stadium | ||||||
| Capacity | 50,100[1] | ||||||
| Field size | 160x156m | ||||||
| Field shape | Round | ||||||
| Surface | Grass | ||||||
| Construction | |||||||
| Opened | 2017; 7 years ago (2017) | ||||||
| Architect | Skyline Architectural Consultants[2] | ||||||
| Tenants | |||||||
| Website | |||||||
| Ekana Sportz city | |||||||
| Ground information | |||||||
| International information | |||||||
| Only Test | 27–29 November 2019: Afghanistan v  West Indies | ||||||
| First ODI | 6 November 2019: Afghanistan v West Indies | ||||||
| Last ODI | 3 November 2023: Afghanistan v  Netherlands | ||||||
| First T20I | 6 November 2018: India v West Indies | ||||||
| Last T20I | 29 January 2023: India v  New Zealand | ||||||
| First WODI | 7 March 2021: India v  South Africa | ||||||
| Last WODI | 17 March 2021: India v South Africa | ||||||
| First WT20I | 20 March 2021: India v South Africa | ||||||
| Last WT20I | 23 March 2021: India v South Africa | ||||||
| Team information | |||||||
| |||||||
| As of 31 October 2023 Source: ESPNcricinfo | |||||||
The stadium has the longest straight boundaries in comparison to all the stadiums in India. It is the home ground of Uttar Pradesh cricket team, UP women's cricket team and IPL franchise the Lucknow Super Giants.[7]
In 2019, the Afghanistan cricket team used it as their home ground.[8] K.D. Singh Babu stadium used to host international cricket matches in Lucknow before the venue was built.
The arena hosted the five matches of the 2023 Men's Cricket World Cup.[9]
The project for constructing the world class stadium in Lucknow was commissioned in 2014, and the stadium was built under public-private partnership between Ekana Sportz City and Lucknow Development Authority. Ekana Sportz City is a Joint venture between Nagarjuna Construction Company, GC Construction & Development Industries Pvt Ltd.
As per the agreement of the partnership, the government provided Ekana Sportz City with 35-year lease of 71 acres to build the cricket stadium, with the lease running through 2052. In addition, the government also provided 66 additional acres of land for real estate projects on a 99-year lease. The cricket stadium has been built with a budget of 360 crores (3.6 billion rupees).[10]
Before its international debut, it also hosted the final of the 2017–18 Duleep Trophy.[11] The stadium was allocated the 3rd ODI between India and New Zealand to be held on 27 Oct 2017. However, the venue was shifted to Kanpur after the stadium was declared incomplete.[12]
On 6 November 2018, the stadium hosted its first international match, a Twenty20 International (T20I) between India and the West Indies,[13] becoming the 52nd stadium in India to host an international cricket match.[14] International cricket match returned to Lucknow after 24 years, after the India and Sri Lanka test match of 1994.[15] In that match Rohit Sharma became the first cricketer to score four centuries in T20Is.[16] India won that match by 71 runs.[17] The last time Lucknow hosted an international match was in January 1994, when India played a test match against Sri Lanka at the K.D. Singh Babu Stadium.[18]
In May 2019, Afghanistan Cricket Board requested the BCCI to use this venue for their international matches.[19] In August 2019, BCCI awarded the venue to Afghanistan national cricket team as their third home venue in India, being previously played in Dehradun and Greater Noida.[20]
It hosted all the matches during Afghanistan vs West Indies series in 2019.[21] On 6 November 2019, the venue hosted its first ODI match.[22] On 27 November 2019, the venue hosted its first Test match.[23]
In May 2022, the venue was scheduled to host all the matches of the fourth edition of Women's T20 Challenge. However, later the matches were shifted to Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.[24]
The venue has hosted two major events organized by the UP government.
Award distribution ceremony
On 19 August 2021, an award giving ceremony was held at the stadium by the state government to honor the athletes who won the medals at 2020 Summer Olympics that was held in 2021 at Tokyo, Japan. They all were facilitated with monetary rewards given by the Uttar Pradesh government. The highest prize was given to Neeraj Chopra who was the only one from India to won gold medal in Javelin throw.[25]
Swearing-in ceremony
On 25 March 2022, at the venue Yogi Adityanath took oath as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh along with his cabinet, after his impressive victory in 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. The oath was given by the Governor of state, Anandiben Patel.
Many VVIP's, celebrities, big businessmen were invited in the ceremony including the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home minister Amit Shah and the Chief Ministers of NDA led states.[26]
2023 Men's World Cup
v |
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South Africa won by 134 runs Umpires: Richard Illingworth (Eng) and Joel Wilson (WI) Player of the match: Quinton de Kock (SA) |
- Australia won the toss and elected to field.
- This was Australia's largest defeat in World Cups surpassing their 118 run loss to India in 1983, in terms of runs (134).[27]
v |
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Australia won by 5 wickets Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZ) and Joel Wilson (WI)[lower-alpha 2] Player of the match: Adam Zampa (Aus) |
- Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
v |
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Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets Umpires: Marais Erasmus (SA) and Ahsan Raza (Pak) Player of the match: Sadeera Samarawickrama (SL) |
- Netherlands won the toss and elected to bat.
v |
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India won by 100 runs Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (SA) and Rod Tucker (Aus) Player of the match: Rohit Sharma (Ind) |
- England won the toss and elected to field.
- Rohit Sharma (Ind) played in his 100th ODI as captain.[28]
v |
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Afghanistan won by 7 wickets Umpires: Nitin Menon (Ind) and Sharfuddoula (Ban) Player of the match: Mohammad Nabi (Afg) |
- Netherlands won the toss and elected to bat.
- Mujeeb Ur Rahman (Afg) took his 100th wicket in ODIs.[29]
- Afghanistan qualified for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy for the first time ever in International Cricket.[30]
List of international centuries
Test matches
Only one Test century has been scored at the venue.[7]
| No. | Score | Player | Team | Balls | Opposing team | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111* | Shamarh Brooks | West Indies | 214 | Afghanistan | 28 November 2019 | West Indies won[31] |
One Day Internationals
Three ODI centuries have been scored at the venue, two in a men's match and one in a women's match.[32][33]
| No. | Score | Player | Team | Balls | Versus | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 109* | Shai Hope | West Indies | 145 | Afghanistan | 11 November 2019 | West Indies won[34] |
| 2 | 109 | Quinton de Kock | South Africa | 106 |  Australia | 12 October 2023 | South Africa won [35] |
| No. | Score | Player | Team | Balls | Versus | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 132* | Lizelle Lee | South Africa | 132 | India | 12 March 2021 | South Africa won[36] |
Twenty20 Internationals
Only one T20I century has been scored at the venue.[37]
| No. | Score | Player | Team | Balls | Versus | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111* | Rohit Sharma | India | 61 | West Indies | 6 November 2018 | India won[38] |
List of international five-wicket hauls
Test matches
| No. | Bowler | Date | Team | Versus | Inn | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rahkeem Cornwall | 27 November 2019 | West Indies | Afghanistan | 1 | 25.3 | 75 | 7 | West Indies won[31] |
| 2 | Hamza Hotak | 27 November 2019 | Afghanistan | West Indies | 2 | 28.3 | 74 | 5 | West Indies won[31] |
T20Is
| No. | Bowler | Date | Team | Versus | Inn | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karim Janat | 16 November 2019 | Afghanistan | West Indies | 2 | 4 | 11 | 5 | Afghanistan won[39] |
- "Ekana" is a Sanskrit words, which means 'unity' in English.
- Joel Wilson replaced Alex Wharf.
- "ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 - Media Guide" (PDF). ICC. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- "Ekana stadium named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee". United News of India. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- "Lucknow stadium renamed in honour of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ahead of India-West Indies T20I". India Today. 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- "With on going inspections, Lucknow's cricket stadium a hot favourite to host IPL 2018 matches!". Knock Sense. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- "Yogi Adityanath Inaugurates Lucknow Cricket Stadium, Changes Its Name". NDTV.com. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- "Test Match Batting Records". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- "Afghanistan cricket team gets Lucknow Ekana stadium as their new home ground: BCCI". United News of India. 7 July 2019. Retrieved 13 July 2019.
- "Venues at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023: a guide". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
- Ali, Qaiser Mohammad (6 December 2016). "With Ranji Game, Lucknow Set To Become New Sports Hub". Outlook India. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- "Raina, Parthiv, Abhinav to captain Duleep Trophy teams". ESPNcricinfo. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
- "Lucknow stadium 'not up to mark', Kanpur gets 3rd India-New Zealand ODI". Scroll.in. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- "India, West Indies top orders in focus in Lucknow's international return". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- Sarangi, Y. b. (5 November 2018). "Ekana stadium adds a new chapter to Lucknow". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- "India to host West Indies for T20 in Lucknow as international cricket returns to city after 24 years". Scroll.in. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
- "Rohit Sharma Sets Record, Becomes First Batsman To Score Four T20I Centuries". NDTV Sports. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- "2nd T20I (N), West Indies tour of India at Lucknow, Nov 6 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- "India vs West Indies 2nd T20: Reopening a Nawabi chapter in Lucknow". The Indian Express. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- "Afghan seeks bigger home base in India". The Tribune. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "Lucknow to be new venue for Afghanistan". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
- "Hayden Walsh jnr has big dreams wearing the maroon". Cricket West Indies. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
- "CPL's best brace for Afghanistan spin barrage". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 November 2019.
- "Afganistan [sic] face WI challenge in Ekana's maiden Test". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
- "Lucknow to host Women's T20 Challenge from May 24–28, confirms BCCI president Sourav Ganguly". Hindustan Times. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- Khan, Fazal (19 August 2021). "Lucknow: Ekana Stadium decks up to welcome Tokyo Olympic achievers". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- "World's sixth-largest stadium for Yogi Adityanath's historic swearing-in: A sneak peek into Ekana Stadium". Firstpost. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
- "South Africa trounce woeful Australia at World Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
- "Rohit Sharma Achieves Twin Milestones During World Cup Match Against England". The Times of India. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- "Mujeeb gets to 100. CWC23". ICC Cricket World Cup. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- "Afghanistan qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy". Crictoday. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
- "Only Test, West Indies tour of India against Afghanistan at Lucknow, Nov 11 2019". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
- "ODI Batting Records". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- "WODI Batting Records". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- "3rd ODI (D/N), West Indies tour of India against Afghanistan at Lucknow, Nov 11 2019". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
- "World Cup 2023 (D/N), Oct 12 2023". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- "3rd WODI, South Africa Women tour of India at Lucknow, Mar 12 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
- "T20I Batting Records". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
- "2nd T20I, West Indies tour of India at Lucknow, Nov 6 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
- "2nd T20I West Indies tour of India against Afghanistan 2019–20". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 29 November 2019.